Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Head of Customer Services on Discharging a Homelessness Duty through the Private Rented Sector.

Approved the content of the draft discharging a homelessness duty through the private rented sector policy.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Customer Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached a policy outlining how the Council will discharge its homelessness duty through the private rented sector.

Members were advised that the policy had been prepared in response to the Localism Act 2011 and subsequent regulations which allow the Council to end its “duty” to a household accepted as homeless by making an offer of suitable private rented sector accommodation in the district.

Having received the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) on the document, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the Policy to Discharge the Council’s Homelessness Duties Through the Private Rented Sector be approved.

To receive a report from the Head of Customer Services on Discharging a Homelessness Duty through the Private Rented Sector.

20 Minutes.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Customer Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), which sought endorsement for a policy that would allow the Council to fulfil its duty to a household accepted as homeless by making an offer of suitable private rented sector accommodation. In introducing the report Mr J Collen, Housing Needs and Resource Manager, explained that the Localism Act 2011 had given the Council the power to introduce such a policy but that it was unlikely that the policy would be regularly utilised. Having been advised that Regulations contained criteria that required accommodation to be suitable, safe and reasonable, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to endorse the content of the Policy to Discharge the Council’s Homelessness Duties Through the Private Rented Sector.